Priyanka Chopra Jonas is one of the most prominent names in both Bollywood and Hollywood industries. Her journey has been quite fascinating, especially her decision to leave the comforts of Bollywood to break into Hollywood. This transition was not an easy one for her, but she has been able to make it big in the American film industry.
Breaking Free from the Constraints of Bollywood
Chopra Jonas left Bollywood due to a plethora of reasons. One of the main factors was being pushed into a corner in the industry and experiencing intense politics, including not being cast for reasons and having beef with people. One of the most noticeable issues she faced was pay disparity with her male colleagues in India. However, this scenario changed in the current streaming era, where top actresses are now considered as co-leads with men.
Bollywood’s star system is more intense than Hollywood’s, but Chopra Jonas still chose to transition to Hollywood and signed with CAA as the first Indian movie star to join the talent agency. Even though Chopra Jonas enjoyed phenomenal success in India, she realized that if she wanted to broaden her horizons and reach a global audience, she would have to take chances.
Music Industry – A Stepping Stone towards Hollywood
Chopra Jonas began her career transition in music by working with Pitbull, will.i.am, Pharrell, and Matthew Koma. She signed a talent holding deal with ABC Studios which eventually cast her as a lead in Quantico. Although initially criticized by individuals who knew her from her Indian film days because of her smaller roles in Hollywood, she needed to build up her English-language filmography.
Overcoming Criticism and Building a Successful Career in Hollywood
After gaining all-round praise for Quantico, Chopra Jonas landed significant roles in major Hollywood productions like Baywatch, The Matrix Resurrections, and the upcoming romance movie Love Again. She also features in the spy drama TV series Citadel, which is set to release on April 28.
Chopra Jonas faced criticism from some who thought she was taking Hollywood too seriously and forgetting where she has come from. However, the actress remained determined and steadfast in her approach to achieving success in Hollywood. Her performances in these blockbuster movies have proved her detractors wrong.
Amaal Mallik Speaks Out Against the Constraints of Bollywood Music Industry
Speaking of constraints, Indian musician Amaal Mallik has recently spoken out against the issues he faces while working within the Bollywood music industry. He is against conforming to certain working demands and conditions of the music industry in Bollywood.
Mallik refuses most remixes and to suck up to power-mad people. Also, he cannot take instructions from non-musical people about music. He cannot work without the right remuneration and without being part of any producer-director camp. He clearly stated that he cannot do constant a** licking; rather he prioritizes staying true to his creative integrity.
Echoes of Chopra Jonas’ Struggles within Bollywood’s Camp Culture
Amaal Mallik’s frank tweets come after reacting to a news report covering Priyanka Chopra’s statements about her experience in Bollywood. Chopra Jonas has been vocal about how she had to fight through Mumbai’s “camp culture”, referring to small groups of filmmakers who collaborate repetitively with each other and have demonstrated their preference for certain actors.
Mallik talks about the truth about campism, bootlicking, and powerplay within Bollywood that needs to come out more often. Many young talents are pushed aside due to prevalent nepotism in the industry. However, these assertions suggest that young artists are beginning to address issues such as nepotism, sexism and groupism, which have long hounded the Bollywood music industry.
In conclusion, Chopra Jonas’ move from Bollywood to Hollywood was both a bold move and a necessity. The global audience is broadening its horizons, and Hollywood provides an excellent opportunity for talented artists such as her to showcase their potential. Her success story should inspire others to follow their dreams despite facing multiple challenges. However, until Bollywood recognizes the need for a level playing field, there may be more like Chopra Jonas who will look elsewhere to fulfil their ambitions.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
